Sign structure



Aug. 18, 1959 SIGN STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 14, 1958 R. E. OBERLIN, JR

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 RALPH E. OBERL/N, JR.

INVENTOR.

l aay M v ATTORNEYS R. E. OBERLIN, JR

SIGN STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 14, 1958 SEF FIG. 6

FIG. 5

nited States Patent 'Cfifice Patented Aug. 18, 1959 SIGN STRUCTURE RalphE. Oberlin, Jr., Massillon, Ohio, assigrior to Igelstroem-Oberlin, Inc.,Massillon, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 14, 1958,Serial No. 774,015

4 Claims. (Cl. 40-125) This invention relates to so-called pole signsand to apparatus for mounting signs on poles, particularly signs of thebanner type in which the sign body is a printed, painted, orlithographed sheet of flexible material, such as a woven fabric, aplastic film, or the like. 7

Such banner type signs are commonly provided with stiffening bars orslats of wood or metal that are seamed into or otherwise secured tohorizontal, parallel, upper and lower edges of the flexible banner.Signs of this type are generally mounted on vertical poles, often with apair of the signs mounted on opposite sides of the pole to face inopposite directions. The stiffened horizontal upper and lower edges ofthe signs are generally secured to the pole by suitable brackets thatgrip the pole and pull the stiffened edges in opposite directions tohold the body of the sign taut so as to minimize flapping and vibratingof the sign body in the wind, while holding the sign body in a generallyvertical plane.

It is common practice to display banner type signs of the characterdescribed above for relatively short periods of time, and to change thebanners at intervals in order to obtain a desired variety ofadvertising. Particularly in cases where the signs are changed atrelatively frequent intervals, it is desirable to have sign mountingdevices which can be easily and quickly applied to a post and removedtherefrom, which are adapted to have the sign banners easily and quicklysecured thereto and removed therefrom, and which are readily adjustableto initially mount a banner thereon under tension and to adjust thetension from time to time to take up slack caused by stretching of thebanner or to accommodate dimensional changes in the banner caused bychanging atmospheric conditions in the course of outdoor exposure of thesigns.

The objects of 'theinvention are to provide signs of the type describedand mounting devices for such signs which are simple in form, light inweight, and inexpensive to manufacture; which have the foregoingattributes of being easily and quickly installed, removed, and adjusted;and which are reliable and rugged in use. a i

The present invention involves a novel combination of a pair of simplepost-gripping assemblies respectivelydisposed adjacent the stiffened,horizontal, top and bottom edges of a banner ty'p'e sign, with a pair ofturnbuckles for connecting at least one of said edges of the sign to oneof the post-gripping assemblies, whereby the tension in the banner maybe adjusted after the post-gripping assemblies are mounted on a post andthe banner has been attached thereto. The other of said stiffened edgesof the sign may be secured more or less rigidly to the second of thepost-gripping assemblies, or it may also be secured thereto by a pair ofturnbuckles. A pair of banner type signs facing in opposite directionsmay be similarly mounted on the same set of post-gripping assemblies,one sign being disposed on each side of the supporting post.

The foregoing advantages and features of the invention will be betterunderstood from the following detailed description of preferredembodiments of the invention and from the accompanying drawings. In thedrawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a pair of banner type signs mounted on oppositesides of a vertical post in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view showing how the stiffenedbottom edges of the signs may be adjustably secured to the supportingpost in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a combination post-gripping bracket andbanner tensioning means utilized in the structure as shown in Fig. 2. 7

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary plan views similar to Fig. 1, with minormodifications, and illustrate how the post-gripping device accommodatesitself to posts of different diameters. a

Fig. 6 is a similar fragmentary plan view, with minor modifications,illustrating an alternative construction in which themain clamp elementsof the post-gripping assemblies may be connected for gripping posts ofstill smaller diameter. a a I p Referring to Figs. 1 'to 3, inclusive, avertical post 11 is shown with upper and lower post-gripping assemblies12 and 13 mounted thereon and with oppositely facing banner type signs14 and 15 secured on opposite sides of the post behind the post-grippingassemblies. Each of the upper and lower post-gripping assemblies maycomprise two generally W-shaped clamp elements 16 which areinterconnected by W-shaped connecting elements 17 and a plurality ofscrews and nuts 18. As will be apparent from the drawing, this assemblyof clamp elements and connecting elements may be assembled about thepost 11 and may be tightened about the post in gripping relationshiptherewith simply by tightening the screws and nuts 18.

Each clamp element 16 has its opposite ends 20 b'e'n't outwardly in asymmetrical manner to extend in opposite directions in a common planespaced outwardly from the body of the clamp element relative to thepost'll engaged thereby. These end portions 20 constitue ears throughwhich screws 21 may be passed for securing the stiffened upper or loweredge of a banner to the clamp elem'e'nt. As shownin Fig. l, the upperedge portion 22 or 23 6f each sign 14 or 15 may besecu'red directly tothe ears 20 of a clamp element by passing the screws 21 theret hro'ughand applying nuts to the screws. As shown in Fig. 2, the lower stiiienededge of the banner (and the -upper stiflened edge as we'll), may beconstructed by folding the edge of the banner about a bar or slat 24 andstitching the banner to retain the slat in place, similarly to theseaming of a slat'in the lower'edge portion 'of a conventional roll typewindow blind.

As also shown in Fig. 2, the lower edge 25 or 26 of each banner 14 or 15may be secured to the lower postgripping assembly 13 by means of a pairof turnbuckles 27, each turnbuckle having one end pivotally secured toan ear 20 of a clamp element 16' by means of a screw and nut 28. Theopposite end of each turnbuckle may be similarly secured to the loweredge portion 25 or 26 of the banner 14 or 15 by means of another screwand nut 29. An assembly of the post-gripping elements with four suchturnbuckles is shown in Fig. 3.

The sign structure described above may be mounted on the post 11 byfirst securing the upper post-gripping assembly 12 in place and securingthe upper edge portions of the banners 14 and 15'to opposite sidesthereof so that the two banners are suspended therefrom. The lowerpost-gripping assembly is then secured in place on the post a shortdistance below the lower edges of the two banners, and the turnbuckles27 are secured to the lower edge portions of the banners as described.The banners may then be stretched taut by simply adjusting theturnbuckles to initially tension the sign. As may be required from timeto time, the tension in the sign may be relieved or increased byreadjusting the turnbuckles.

Although somewhat less convenient during initial installation of a sign,it will be obvious that the positions ofthe upper and lowerpost-gripping assemblies 12 and 1.3 may be reversed if desired. It willalso be obvious that a pair of post-gripping assemblies, each includingthe turnbuckles, may be employed to hold both the upper and lower edgeportions of the two banners without departing from the principles of theinvention.

In order to further rigidify the entire sign assembly, a pair of longthreaded rods 30 may be disposed to extend between and pass outwardlythrough the stiffened upper edges 22 and 23 of each sign 14 and 15, andspeed nuts 31 or the like may be applied to opposite ends of eachthreaded rod to spring the adjacent ends of the upper edge portions ofthe two signs together a short distance and hold them under moderatebending stresses. A similar pair of long threaded rods and associatedspeed nuts (not shown) or the like may' be similarly applied to theopposite ends of the lower edge portions 25 and 26 of the two signs.

From the foregoing description of the form of the invention shown inFigs. 1-3, it will be apparent that a simple sign structure has beenprovided which may be easilv and quickly installed and readily adjustedas needed from time to time, and that the post-gripping assemblies maybe inexpensively fabricated from sheet metal stampings and conventionalscrews, nuts. and turnbuckles to provide reliable and rugged supportsfor the flexible signs.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, essentially the same form ofpost-gripping assembly used in the structure of Figs. l3 is shownmounted on posts 33 (Fig. 4) and 34 (Fig. As will be apparent, thepost-gripping assemblies adapt themselves to posts of different sizes,it merely being necessary to tighten the screws and nuts 18 until eachof the clamp elements 16 and connector elements 17 firmly engages andpartially embraces the post. For the particular form of post grippingassembly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, utilizing screws 18 of a givenlength, substantially the minimum and maximum post sizes which may beaccommodated are shown in the two figures. Larger post sizes may beaccommodated by using long screws 18. Still smaller post sizes than theone illustrated in Fig. 4 may be accommodated by substituting smaller,modified connector elements 36 of generally V-shape. In this instanceonly the clamp elements 16 directly engage the post 37, the connectorelements 36 being spaced outwardly therefrom on opposite sides thereof.

To illustrate optional sign constructions adapted to be mounted inaccordance with the invention, Figs. 4 and 5 show signs comprisingsheets 38 of plastic or the like glued or otherwise bonded to metalstiffening bars 39 of any desired cross section, Fig. 4, showing twosuch signs mounted on opposite sides of the post 33, and Fig. 5 showinga single sign similarly mounted by means of the same mounting assemblieson the post 34. Fig. 6 shows a sign differing from those heretoforedescribed only in that a modified stiffening bar 40 is shown as beingmade of wood, with the sheet material of the banner glued or otherwisebonded thereto.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description and drawings ofillustrated forms of the invention that numerous modifications thereofmay be made without departing from the principles of the invention, andall such modifications as will occur to those skilled in the art areconsidered to be within the scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for mounting signs of flexible fabric or the like on avertical post, comprising an annularpostgripping assembly adapted tosurround a post, said assembly including adjustable means forcontracting the assembly to releasably grip a post surrounded thereby, apair of cars extending from said assembly, relative to a post embracedthereby, outwardly to horizontally aligned and spaced points, and a pairof turnbuckles respectively having ends pivotally attached to said earsat said points and having opposite free ends for attachment to one edgeportion of a sign to be mounted on a 0st. p 2. A device for mountingsigns of flexible fabric 0 the like on a vertical post, comprising aplurality of opposed clamp elements adapted to be positioned againstopposite sides of a post, means releasably connecting said clampelements together to form an annular assembly adapted to surround thepost, said means being adjustable to urge said clamp elements towardeach other against opposite sides of the post for gripping the same, apair of ears extending from said assembly, relative to a post embracedthereby, outwardly to horizontally aligned and spaced points, a pair ofturnbuckles respectively having ends pivotally attached to said ears atsaid points and having opposite free ends for attachment to one edgeportion of a sign to be mounted on the post. p

3. A device for mounting signs of flexible fabric or the like on avertical post, comprising a pair of opposed, generally W-shaped clampelements having their central V-shaped portions diverging toward eachother for engaging and partially embracing opposite sides of a roundpost, brackets releasably connecting said clamp elements togetheradjacent opposite ends thereof to form an annular assembly adapted tosurround a post, said brackets being adjustable to urge said clampelements toward each other on opposite sides of a post for gripping thesame, each of said clamp elements having its opposite ends bent toextend symmetrically relative to the clamp element in oppositedirections in a common plane, a pair of turnbuckles respectively havingends pivotally attached to said opposite ends of a clamp element, theother free ends of said turnbuckles being shaped for removableattachment to one edge portion of a sign to be mounted on a post.

4. A sign assembly comprising a flexible sign body of fabric or the likehaving parallel upper and lower straight edges, a pair of stiffeningbars respectively secured to said upper and lower edges of the signbody, an annular post-gripping assembly adapted to surround a post andincluding means for releasably and adjustably clamping the assemblyabout a post, horizontally spaced ears on said assembly disposed in acommon plane outwardly of the body of the assembly relative to a postembraced thereby, means securing said ears to one of said stiffeningbars, a second corresponding post-gripping assembly, a pair ofturnbuckles respectively having ends pivotally attached to the ears ofsaid second post-gripping assembly and having opposite free endsattached to the other of said stiffening bars, whereby saidpost-gripping assemblies may be clamped to a post in vertically spacedrelationship with opposite edges of the sign body extending therebetweenand connected thereto, and the sign body may be stretched taut byadjustment of said turnbuckles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

